When Foreign Patients Visit a Japanese Clinic

I attended a symposium on medical care for foreign patients.

I cannot say that I know much about healthcare systems overseas, but I felt a little disappointed that discussions like this still seem particularly necessary in Japan.

Surprisingly, around 200 people attended the event. Most of them were not healthcare professionals, but foreign residents living in Japan, and they came from countries all over the world.

Apparently, two of the main concerns foreign residents have when visiting hospitals in Japan are:

1. The atmosphere in the consultation room
2. The short amount of time spent with the doctor

I had assumed that language barriers and medical expenses would be their biggest concerns, so this made me reflect deeply on my own assumptions.